JST XH vs PH vs GH vs SH: Pitch, Current and When Substitution Works

JST XH vs PH vs GH vs SH: Pitch, Current and When Substitution Works

icsourcedirect.com is an independent China connector distributor and procurement agent sourcing from Shenzhen, not an authorized JST channel. The JST XH, PH, GH and SH wire-to-board families are four of the most common 2.5 mm / 2.0 mm / 1.25 mm / 1.0 mm pitch headers our buyers ask about, and the most common question is whether one can stand in for another when stock is short. This guide compares the four families on pitch, current rating, housing geometry and plating, then runs a ten-axis substitution check before declaring when each swap is reasonable. Verify every proposed cross against the original manufacturer datasheet and your own qualification process.

A board designer and an MRO buyer asking the same question ("can I drop a JST PH where the BOM says JST XH?") usually mean very different things — one asks for a footprint-compatible second source, the other asks whether any 2.0-ish mm pitch JST will re-mate on a wiring harness with three pins already soldered. The honest answer to both is the same: pitch and pin count are two parameters out of ten that have to match, and skipping the other eight is what causes field failures.

The Four Families at a Glance

JST publishes the XH, PH, GH and SH wire-to-board connector series for through-hole and surface-mount PCB headers with discrete-wire crimp housings. All four share the JST top-entry shrouded-header idiom and use the same insulation-displacement contact philosophy, but they sit at four different pitches and four different current ratings, and they do not intermate with each other.

These four families are physically distinct: a JST XH 2.5 mm crimp housing will not lock into a JST PH 2.0 mm PCB header, and a JST GH 1.25 mm receptacle will not seat on a JST SH 1.0 mm header. The lock latches, polarization keys and contact widths are all family-specific. Substitution here means choosing a different brand of the same pitch connector (for example, JST XH to Molex KK 254) only when pitch and form-fit-line are aligned — never a closer or wider pitch.

Our catalog carries XHP-2, XHP-3, XHP-4 (JST XH family, 2- to 4-position top-entry through-hole headers), PHR-2, PHR-3, PHR-4 (JST PH family), GHR-02V-S (JST GH family, vertical top-entry through-hole) and SUHR-10V-S (JST SH family, vertical top-entry SMT) alongside the corresponding crimp housings and contacts. Stock is confirmed per line on the quote; lead time, MOQ and packaging form (bag, tube, reel) are returned with each line. RFQ through the inquiry page or the BOM upload tool.

Why the Same-Pitch Question Is Harder Than It Looks

A Russian integrator redesigning a control board for a CNC retrofit, or an MRO technician chasing a wire-to-board replacement for a 2014-era piece of Japanese test gear, often opens the question with "JST XH and Molex KK 254 — same pitch, can I swap?". The honest answer is: same pitch, same general use case, but the housing latch, polarization keying, contact crimp geometry and plating are JST-specific. Across brands, a same-pitch alternative is a candidate, not a guarantee.

Buyers from Russia and the CIS phrase this differently when they ask the catalog directly:

• «Чем отличается JST XH от PH, аналог» — "what is the difference between JST XH and PH, is there an analogue"
• «Чем заменить разъём JST XH, если нет в наличии» — "what to use instead of JST XH when out of stock"
• «Разъёмы JST XH 2.5 мм — опт» — "JST XH 2.5 mm connectors, wholesale"
• «Разъёмы JST GH 1.25 мм — купить» — "JST GH 1.25 mm connectors, buy"

These four questions sit at different intent depths — comparison, out-of-stock substitution, wholesale procurement, and same-pitch second-source — and each maps to a different operation in our Shenzhen desk: a parameter comparison sheet, an alternative-channel or cross-reference proposal, a multi-line quote with consolidated shipment, and a ten-axis verification table. The same desk handles all four because the underlying comparison work is the same.

The Ten Substitution Axes — Applied to JST XH / PH / GH / SH

The substitution discipline from our connector reference requires every cross to be checked on ten axes before it is presented. The result for a within-family JST alternative (XH to XH) is straightforward; the result for a cross-family or cross-brand alternative (JST XH to Molex KK 254, or JST PH to JST XH) is where the work happens. We default to claim ladder level 1 to 2 — visually similar outline, mating interface matches on paper — and we never declare a true one-for-one, no-questions-asked replacement in any quotation.

1. Form and fit outline

Within the JST family, each series has its own shroud, latch and polarization geometry. XH (2.5 mm pitch) and PH (2.0 mm pitch) look superficially similar — both are top-entry, single-row, white nylon housings — but the latch position, the polarization rib, the lock-release ramp and the contact cavity dimensions are different. A cross from PH to XH is blocked at this axis because the crimp housing will not seat on the PCB header. Substitution here is rejected at the outset.

Between brands at the same pitch (JST XH 2.5 mm versus Molex KK 254 2.54 mm), the outline is similar but not identical — the housing wall thickness, the lock-release ramp angle, the polarization slot position, and the crimp contact retention feature all differ. Outline match is rated similar, not equivalent. Verification against the mating datasheet is required.

2. Dimensions

Pitch differs between series by design (2.5 / 2.0 / 1.25 / 1.0 mm), so any cross-family substitution is differ on this axis. Within the same pitch across brands (JST XH 2.5 mm versus Molex KK 254 2.54 mm), the pitch differs by 0.04 mm — the KK 254 footprint is not pin-compatible with XH without a PCB respin. Mating height and PCB footprint also vary; for XH and KK 254 the mated heights are within roughly 0.5 mm but the vertical pin-header stand-off and the through-hole pad diameter are different.

3. Pin-to-pin layout

Pin numbering and contact width follow family-specific conventions. A within-family alternative (XHP-2 to XHP-3, that is 2-position to 3-position of the same series) preserves the numbering direction but changes the total pin count. A cross-family or cross-brand substitution changes the contact width, the crimp terminal cross-section and the orientation of pin 1. Differ on this axis for any cross-family candidate.

4. Electrical parameters

Within the JST family, the rated current and voltage differ by series:

• XH 3 A / 250 V — for power and signal at 2.5 mm pitch
• PH 2 A / 100 V — for lower-power signal at 2.0 mm pitch
• GH 1 A / 50 V — for low-power signal at 1.25 mm pitch
• SH 1 A / 50 V — for low-power signal at 1.0 mm pitch

Substituting PH (2 A) into a design where XH (3 A) was specified for a 3 A power rail is a derating violation: the contact resistance and the temperature rise profile are different, and the wire gauge that fits each contact cavity is different. Differ for any cross-family substitution at this axis; same-family same-pitch substitutions preserve the rating.

5. Mechanical parameters

All four series share the JST philosophy of discrete-wire crimp contacts with a positive lock. Within the family, mating cycles and crimp retention force are series-specific. Across brands (JST XH versus Molex KK 254), the crimp geometry, the insertion force, the contact retention force and the wire gauge range differ. Matched within family, same series; differ across brand even at same pitch.

6. Environmental class

JST does not publish an explicit IP rating for XH / PH / GH / SH. These are unsealed, indoor-use, controlled-environment headers. If the application requires IP rating, sealed connector families (M8, M12, M23 sealed circular) are required — not a tin-plated brass wire-to-board header. The environmental class is matched within the unsealed family; do not substitute where IP67 or higher is required.

7. Ingress protection

None of the four series is sealed. A substitution that loses IP rating is a hard blocker — for example, attempting to use JST XH in a food-processing washdown line because the pitch is right is wrong, because the connector will fail the washdown. Do not substitute sealed parts with unsealed headers.

8. Temperature range

JST XH / PH / GH / SH are specified for an operating temperature range around -25 °C to +85 °C depending on series. Higher-temperature applications (industrial oven-side, automotive under-hood, food-processing washdown) are outside the published range. Do not substitute for applications where the operating temperature exceeds the published maximum.

9. Materials and plating

JST XH / PH / GH / SH housings are glass-filled nylon (typically PA66), contacts are brass with tin plating as standard. Selective gold plating is available on XH for lower-contact-resistance applications. Across brands (JST XH versus Molex KK 254), the housing material family is similar (PA66 / PBT) but the contact base material and the plating thickness can differ. Matched within family, same series; differ across brand even at same pitch.

10. Certifications

JST XH / PH / GH / SH carry UL listing (file number varies by series and is on the JST datasheet) and CSA recognition. We do not hold or claim these certifications; the listing belongs to JST and applies to parts supplied through the documented channel. For Russian-market imports, EAC / TR CU status is the responsibility of the party placing the product on the market — the desk does not certify, and EAC conformance should be verified per line before shipment. Manufacturer certifications exist; we do not pass them through as our own.

When Substitution Is Reasonable

A JST XH header can be replaced by another JST XH header (same series, same pitch) when the alternative has the same pin count, same orientation (top-entry versus side-entry), same plating (tin versus selective gold where the current design uses selective gold), and is sourced through a documented channel that can stand behind the manufacturer part number. Cross-pitch substitution (JST XH to JST PH) is not reasonable: the housing will not mate, the footprint is different, the rated current is different.

A same-pitch substitution across brands (JST XH 2.5 mm to Molex KK 254 2.54 mm) is reasonable only where the application does not depend on the housing geometry, the PCB has been redesigned for the alternative footprint, and the application is a non-safety wire-to-board signal or low-current-power interface. The 0.04 mm pitch difference and the housing geometry difference are real engineering work, not a documentation note.

A JST PH 2.0 mm header can be replaced by another JST PH header (same series) under the same discipline. Substitution across series (JST PH to JST XH) is rejected at axis 1 and 2. The rule is the same regardless of which pair you are considering: same series, same pitch, same pin count, same plating, same orientation.

When Substitution Must Not Happen

A buyer is told no on the substitution question in five common situations, each of which we will name explicitly rather than paper over:

• Power rails above the substitute's rating. A JST PH 2 A header cannot replace a JST XH 3 A header on a power rail designed for 3 A continuous. The contact cross-section and the wire gauge that fits the cavity are different, and derating reduces the safe margin to nothing.
• Sealed environments. None of XH / PH / GH / SH is IP-rated. A washdown line, an outdoor cabinet, a food-processing machine, or any application with moisture or dust ingress must use a sealed connector family (M8 / M12 sealed, or a sealed heavy-duty series), not an unsealed JST wire-to-board header.
• High-vibration or high-temperature environments. Industrial vibration and thermal cycling can work-harden tin-plated crimp contacts and fatigue brass contact springs. Where the application runs at the published temperature limit or in continuous vibration (drives, machine tools, rail), a higher-spec sealed connector with mechanical lock and rated vibration profile is required.
• Safety-critical signalling. Emergency-stop circuits, safety relays and similar control-room loops: substitution here is a regulatory question, not a sourcing question. The desk sources parts; it does not certify safe-for-purpose in these categories.
• PCB footprint not redesigned. If the PCB has the JST XH 2.5 mm pad pattern and the BOM is changed to a JST PH 2.0 mm or a Molex KK 254 2.54 mm, the PCB has to be reworked. No PCB redesign is a hard constraint for many buyers; cross-pitch and cross-brand candidates fail that constraint.

How an Independent Sourcing Desk Handles the Cross-Reference

icsourcedirect.com is an independent connector distributor and procurement agent based in Shenzhen. We are not an authorized JST distributor; we do not hold manufacturer-issued authorization or franchised-channel certificates. That independence is what allows us to source JST XH, PH, GH, SH and their cross-brand alternatives (Molex KK 254, Hirose DF13, Phoenix Contact MCVR in the same pitch band) from the documented Shenzhen channel and present them side by side without channel bias.

For a substitution request, the workflow is:

1. The buyer submits the original manufacturer part number and target application — connector family, pitch, pin count, plating, current rating, environment.
2. The desk returns a comparison sheet covering all ten axes, with matched / differ / unknown stated per axis, and the unknowns flagged. Any axis where we cannot verify from the manufacturer datasheet or the catalog specifications is written as "not verified", never inferred.
3. The buyer decides which axes are critical for the application. Where the application is a non-safety wire-to-board signal interface and the unknowns are not on critical axes, the candidate moves forward. Where the application is power-rail, sealed, high-vibration or safety-critical, the candidate is rejected at the relevant axis.
4. The quote is issued per line with price, MOQ, lead time and packaging form. Where the alternative requires a PCB change, the desk says so in the same thread.
5. The shipment is consolidated across manufacturers into one box with a single freight bill.

We screen end users and end uses, classify before quoting, and decline transactions that cannot be screened. This applies to substitution orders as much as to first-source orders.

What the Catalog Carries for Each Series

The MPN list above is representative of the catalog depth for each family. Stock and packaging form (bag / tube / reel) are confirmed per line on the quotation; we do not state per-line stock on the article because the figure changes weekly.

Bringing the Cross-Reference into a Russia / CIS Procurement

For buyers in Russia and the CIS, the substitution question usually arrives wrapped in three other questions: can you consolidate a mixed-brand BOM, can you ship under DDP, and what about the per-line MOQ? The answers are independent of the substitution question itself:

• BOM consolidation. A connector BOM that lists JST XH, JST PH and a same-pitch alternative from another brand is consolidated into one shipment with one freight bill. The XH lines are sourced from the JST channel, the alternative-brand lines from theirs, and the housing / contact / retainer / seal sets for each are line-matched against the catalog.
• Delivery to Russia and the CIS. A dedicated weekly consolidated air lane serves Moscow and regional hubs, door-to-door, customs included under DDP, where DDP is offered subject to carrier availability and customs feasibility. Whether a given shipment is quoted DDP, or on another term such as DAP or EXW, is confirmed on the quotation. Where a transaction cannot be screened, it is declined before procurement begins.
• MOQ and small batches. Small lots are routine; the per-line MOQ depends on the specific part and the channel that week, and is confirmed on the quote rather than stated as a blanket minimum. Cut tape and partial packaging are available on many lines but not all, and this is also confirmed per line.

The substitution result does not change any of the above. What changes is which line gets shipped.

What This Article Will Not Promise

We do not promise that JST XH and JST PH are interchangeable — they are not. We do not promise that a same-pitch Molex or alternative is a guaranteed one-for-one for JST XH — same pitch is not the same as same form-fit. We do not promise EAC / TR CU conformance — that rests with the party placing the product on the Russian market. We do not promise a specific lead time on a specific line — lead time is confirmed on the quote. We do not promise inventory counts in this article — those move weekly and are quoted per line.

What we will say, plainly: for a JST XH 2.5 mm header, the catalog carries the family and we will quote a documented channel; for a JST PH 2.0 mm header, the same; for JST GH 1.25 mm and JST SH 1.0 mm, the same. For an out-of-stock cross to a same-pitch alternative, the comparison sheet and the unknowns come back in the same thread as the BOM quote. For a substitution that fails the application (sealed, high-current, control-loop critical), the desk says no at the relevant axis rather than shipping a candidate.

Data Notes (through September 2026)

Series pitch, current rating and mating height values in the comparison table are drawn from the JST family datasheets published on the manufacturer's site and from catalog specifications on the JST manufacturer page of icsourcedirect.com. The representative MPN list is from the live catalog query of September 2026; specific stock figures, package forms and lead times are not stated here because they are confirmed per line on the quotation.

Next Step

Send the BOM line — manufacturer and MPN if you have it, or the housing and the pitch if you don't — through the inquiry page. For a mixed-brand connector BOM with JST XH / PH / GH / SH lines and same-pitch alternatives from other brands, use the BOM upload tool. Stock, MOQ, lead time and packaging form are returned per line; the substitution comparison sheet for any flagged line is returned in the same thread.

For independent connector specification references, see the JST product family pages on the manufacturer's site and the corresponding catalog specifications on icsourcedirect.com under the JST manufacturer page. The substitution discipline used throughout this article is documented in the connector comparison framework on icsourcedirect.com.

Verify against the original manufacturer datasheet and your own qualification process before committing to a substitute.

By the icsourcedirect.com Shenzhen sourcing desk. Last updated, September 2026. The desk is an independent distributor and procurement agent, not an authorized channel; brand names belong to their owners and specifications are best-effort pending verification against the manufacturer datasheet.

FAQ

What is the difference between JST XH and JST PH?

JST XH is a 2.5 mm pitch wire-to-board header family rated 3 A at 250 V; JST PH is a 2.0 mm pitch family rated 2 A at 100 V. The two families use different housing geometry, latch position, polarization and contact cross-section, so a JST XH crimp housing will not mate with a JST PH PCB header. They are not interchangeable; they are two different pitches for two different current ratings.

Can JST XH be replaced by JST PH or JST GH when out of stock?

No — the pitch, housing geometry and current rating differ across XH (2.5 mm, 3 A), PH (2.0 mm, 2 A) and GH (1.25 mm, 1 A), and the housings do not intermate. Out-of-stock substitution at the same pitch must be a same-pitch alternative (for example, JST XH 2.5 mm to Molex KK 254 2.54 mm), and only after a ten-axis comparison confirms the application can absorb the differences.

Is JST SH the same series as JST GH?

No. JST SH is a 1.0 mm pitch SMT wire-to-board header family rated 1 A at 50 V; JST GH is a 1.25 mm pitch through-hole family with the same 1 A at 50 V rating. The mating height, the SMT pad pattern versus the through-hole pin pattern, and the housing geometry are different. SH and GH are used at different pitches for different board layouts.

Which JST series is closest to Molex KK 254?

JST XH at 2.5 mm pitch is the closest within-family comparison to Molex KK 254 at 2.54 mm pitch — both are top-entry, single-row, 3 A class discrete-wire wire-to-board headers. The 0.04 mm pitch difference and the housing geometry difference mean a KK 254 footprint is not pin-compatible with a JST XH footprint without a PCB redesign, and the substitution must be checked on form, dimensions, pin layout, plating and contact cross-section before commitment.

Do JST XH, PH, GH or SH connectors carry an IP rating?

No. None of the four families is sealed to an IP rating. They are designed for indoor, controlled-environment wire-to-board use. For IP67 or higher applications (washdown, outdoor cabinets, food-processing equipment), a sealed connector family such as M8 / M12 sealed circular or a sealed heavy-duty series is required — not an unsealed JST wire-to-board header.

Does icsourcedirect.com hold EAC or TR CU certification for JST connectors?

No. icsourcedirect.com is an independent sourcing desk and does not hold EAC or TR CU certificates and does not claim to. Connectors are typically supplied as components; conformity of a finished device placed on the Russian market is the responsibility of the device manufacturer. EAC conformance must be verified per line before shipment; the desk provides the supporting documents (commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, manufacturer datasheet, batch records on request).

Can a connector BOM with JST XH, PH and same-pitch Molex lines be consolidated into one shipment?

Yes. The four families and their same-pitch alternatives are sourced from their respective channels in Shenzhen and consolidated into a single shipment with one freight bill. MOQ, lead time and packaging form are quoted per line; small lots are routine but the per-line minimum depends on the specific part and is confirmed on the quote.